I love this time of year! The nights are getting cooler, the leaves are turning color and Halloween looms on the horizon. It also means I get to work at Vala's Pumpkin Patch. For those of you who aren't familiar with Vala's, it's a farm that encompasses a wide range of activities and experiences for families. It's 100% family-friendly and I've had the pleasure of working there for about 15 years or so each season. In the Pumpkin Patch world, it's sort of known as the "Disneyl

Alright, I'll admit that I'm a little biased about this recommendation. This book was written by my nephew, Marcus Sikora. I also want to be upfront about something else that really doesn't matter...but I think you should know. Marcus has Down Syndrom. Marcus told the story of "Black Day, The Monster Rock Band" to his mother, who is a gifted writer, and together they brought Marcus' story to life. "Black Day, The Monster Rock Band" is a fun children's story on the surface.